College notes: Injuries continue stacking up for Longhorns

Texas linebacker Steve Edmond suffered a lacerated liver during the Longhorns’ 41-16 win over Texas Tech on Thursday and will not play in the regular-season finale Dec. 7 against Baylor.

Edmond was hit hard by Red Raiders wide receiver Eric Ward in the second quarter and was down on the field for a few minutes before slowly walking to the locker room with assistance from trainers. He did not return.

Edmond, who has a team-high 73 tackles this year, was not the only Texas linebacker injured against Tech. Kendall Thompson sustained a head injury and will be evaluated.

The Longhorns have been hit hard by injuries at linebacker. Jordan Hicks, who missed the final 10 games of the 2012 season, played in only four games before being sidelined with a torn Achilles tendon. Tevin Jackson tore the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee in a win over Kansas. Demarco Cobbs has not played since suffering a right knee injury that forced him to miss the last two games of last season.

Texas has also lost quarterback David Ash, running back Johnathan Gray, defensive tackle Chris Whaley and cornerback Sheroid Evans to injuries.

Starting right tackle Josh Cochran missed eight games because of a shoulder injury.

— Christian Corona

Nebraska troubles

Bo Pelini said he hasn’t been told if he’ll return for a seventh season as Nebraska’s coach and that he isn’t spending any time worrying about it.

After the Cornhuskers’ 38-17 loss to Iowa on Friday, Pelini told reporters, “If they want to fire me, go ahead. I believe in what I’ve done.”

Though Pelini is 57-24 at Nebraska, his performance has been heavily scrutinized in the wake of bad losses to UCLA and Minnesota.

The question is whether first-year athletic director Shawn Eichorst believes Pelini is moving the program in the right direction. The Huskers haven’t won a conference championship since 1999.

Football

• Houston 34, SMU 0: John O’Korn finished 25 of 41 for 245 yards and two touchdowns to help the host Cougars (8-4, 5-3 American) snap a three-game losing streak with a victory over the Mustangs (5-6, 4-3). Houston earned its first shutout since 2011 and its first conference shutout since a 64-0 win over Rice in 1989.

• Troy 42, Texas State 28: Jordan Chunn rushed for two touchdowns to help Troy (6-6, 4-3 Sun Belt) became bowl eligible for the sixth time in eight seasons with a 42-28 victory over the Bobcats. Texas State (6-6, 2-5) has lost three straight games, since earning its sixth win against Idaho on Nov. 2.